Two climate protesters aged 82 and 85 smashed parts of the reinforced case holding an original text of the Magna Carta in the British Library in London on Friday before the pair - one an Anglican priest - were stopped by security staff.
In a video clip posted by Just Stop Oil on social media Reverend Dr Sue Parfitt (82) held a chisel over the case as Judy Bruce (85) hit it with a lump hammer several times. Parfitt then held up a banner saying "THE GOVERNMENT IS BREAKING THE LAW."
The historic document was not damaged, according to the library.
There are only four original Magna Carta texts, the 13th century English treaty which established that nobody was above the law.
Two of them are kept in the British Library, one is in Salisbury Cathedral and the other is held in Lincoln Castle.
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